Sylvia Gutierrez Grant moved to New York from Mexico as a very young woman. In the late 1970s Grant worked in the business office at Flushing Hospital, and began serving as a delegate of District 1199. In 1981 she became an organizer for the union, both in Servicing and New Organizing. One of her early successful campaigns was at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in the Bronx, where she brought 500 workers into the union. In 1986, the “Save Our Union” slate won the officer election, with Grant as Vice President. From 1986–1989 she served as 1199’s Secretary-Treasurer and was elected Vice President of New Organizing in 1989 and then the Division’s Executive Vice President in 1996. Under Grant’s stewardship, 1199 organized tens of thousands of new members, including hospital workers, nursing home workers and home health care workers. These members, along with the passion, dedication, and leadership that Grant instilled in staff of the New Organizing division, are her legacies to the hospital workers union.
Sylvia Gutierrez Grant moved to New York from Mexico as a very young woman. In the late 1970s Grant worked in the business office at Flushing Hospital, and began serving as a delegate of District 1199. In 1981 she became an organizer for the union, both in Servicing and New Organizing. One of her early successful campaigns was at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in the Bronx, where she brought 500 workers into the union. In 1986, the “Save Our Union” slate won the officer election, with Grant as Vice President. From 1986–1989 she served as 1199’s Secretary-Treasurer and was elected Vice President of New Organizing in 1989 and then the Division’s Executive Vice President in 1996. Under Grant’s stewardship, 1199 organized tens of thousands of new members, including hospital workers, nursing home workers and home health care workers. These members, along with the passion, dedication, and leadership that Grant instilled in staff of the New Organizing division, are her legacies to the hospital workers union.